POLICY AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER 1999 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Robertson (A), McGhee, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Rebecchi, Mitchell and Blair, Councillor Robertson (Y), Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

 

In Attendance:-  The Director of Community and Protective Services, the Director of Education Services, the Director of Legal and Support Services, the Director of Resource Services, the Head of Housing Services, the Director of Central Services, the Chief Environmental Services Officer and the Head of Property Services.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Morrison (M), O’Rourke and Jackson.

 

1123      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                           1123

 

The Director of Central Services referred to a report by the Depute Chief Executive on the financial arrangements for the hosting of the Tall Ships event in July/August 1999 recommending that the Council contribute to the final accounting for the hosting of the event.  The Vice-Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow payments to be arranged without delay and she moved that the item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

1124      ROADSIDE TREES                                                                                                                              1124

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 28 October 1999 by the Director of Legal and Support  Services on a request from the Economic Development Services Committee that additional funding be identified for a comprehensive tree survey at an estimated cost of £10,000 inclusive of fees.

DECIDED:  That the sum of £10,000 be made available for a comprehensive tree survey.

 

 

1125      INVERCLYDE LOCAL AGENDA 21 STRATEGY - MAKING CONNECTIONS                            1125

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 29 October 1999 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Community and Protective Services Committee that the Member Group set up to oversee the development of the Inverclyde Community Plan also take responsibility for the development of the Local Agenda 21 Strategy.

DECIDED:  That it be agreed that the Member Group set up to oversee the development of the Inverclyde Community Plan also take responsibility for the development of the Local Agenda 21 Strategy.

1126      CORPORATE CHARGING POLICY                                                                                                  1126

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 November 1999 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Finance Sub-Committee seeking approval of the draft Corporate Charging Policy and recommending that all appropriate services be instructed to establish Service Working Groups to take forward the policy.

DECIDED:  That the draft Corporate Charging Policy be approved and that all appropriate services be instructed to establish Service Working Groups to take forward the policy.

 

1127      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000:  MONITORING REPORT - CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S                      1127

              OFFICE                                                                                                                                                        

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 14 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 for the Chief Executive’s Office as at 15 September 1999 and advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66(a) for virement of £7,000 from the CCTV budget to the Greenock Municipal Buildings security works.

NOTED

 

1128      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - SUMMARY                                                                                   1128

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 15 September 1999. 

NOTED

 

1129      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000:  TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                     1129

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 October 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted; and

(b)  That the Committee approve the following expenditure increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

 

Project	Effect on Expenditure
Strone Entranceway - Phase 1 - Greenock   Addition to contract for asphalt surfacing around multi-sport area	£10,200 increase

 

1130      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000:  FINANCIAL POSITION                                                       1130

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of current and proposed projects in both the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000 and the Social Inclusion Partnership 1999/2000.

NOTED

1131      NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000                                                                               1131

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Non-HRA Capital Programme 1999/2000.  The report advised that the latest estimated shortfall in the Capital Allocation for 1999/2000 was £2,362,000.  The total projected spend on current legal commitments was £7,898,000 and there was an additional estimated spend of £2,178,000 following authorisation of projects agreed by the Committee, the total being approximately £190,000 more than the current estimated allocation.  The report also advised of remits from the Education Services Committee for approval to incur capital expenditure on projects with a cost of £375,000 and advised that, if approved, the projected shortfall of allocation would be £565,000.

The Head of Property Services orally advised the Committee that the latest estimate for the works at St Mary’s Primary School, previously £100,000, was now £125,000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the request by the Education Services Committee for an increased capital allocation for structural work at St Mary’s Primary School (£125,000), fitting out at St Columba’s High School (£75,000) and a survey of educational properties (£200,000) be agreed; and

(b)  That the report be otherwise noted.

 

1132      2000/01 REVENUE BUDGET PROGRESS                                                                                          1132

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 20 October 1999 by the Director of Resource Services advising of progress to date against the 2000/01 Revenue Budget draft timetable.

NOTED

 

1133      GIBSHILL REGENERATION STEERING GROUP                                                                             1133

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Community and Protective Services on the progress being made by the Gibshill Regeneration Steering Group, comprising representatives from a number of agencies, including Inverclyde Council, and community  representatives.  The Strategy Group had developed a strategy for the physical, social and economic regeneration of Gibshill, the broad aims of which were outlined in the report together with a number of proposals submitted by the Strategy Group.

DECIDED: 

(a)  That the terms of the report be noted and that the strategy to regenerate Gibshill be approved;

(b)  That membership of the Steering Group be extended to include an additional 2 Members, 1 from the Majority Group and 1 from the Minority Groups, and that it be agreed to appoint Councillors Robertson (Y) and Mitchell to the Steering Group;

(c)  That in respect of housing the progress being made by the Council, Beazer Homes and Cloch Housing Association be noted;

(d)  That the Social Work and Housing Committee be requested to fund, as a matter of urgency, detailed surveys in Lansbury Street, Thomas Muir Street and Fir Street/Cedar Crescent;

(e)  That reports on options for Lansbury Street, Thomas Muir Street (with specific reference to the shops/flats) and Fir Street/Cedar Crescent be submitted to the Committee once the results of the surveys are known;

(f)  That it be noted that detailed proposals for the vacant area next to the Children’s Centre will be presented before the end of March 2000; and

(g)  That consideration of the refurbishment of the Community Centre, including making available an empty unit for use as a shop, be continued.

 

1134      REQUEST FROM CARTSDYKE RESOURCE CENTRE FOR AN INTEREST FREE                       1134

              LOAN                                                                                                                                                          

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Community and Protective Services on a request from Cartsdyke Resource Centre for an interest free loan of £15,000 to purchase the premises at 1a Bawhirley Road, Greenock currently occupied by them as tenants.

DECIDED:  That an interest free loan of £15,000 from the Common Good Fund be made to Cartsdyke Resource Centre for the purchase of the premises at 1a Bawhirley Road, Greenock currently occupied by them as tenants subject to appropriate terms and conditions.

 

1135      BEST VALUE REGIME                                                                                                                        1135

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 October 1999 by the Director of Legal and Support Services advising that at the meeting of the Best Value Members’ Working Group held on 29 June 1999 it was agreed that the Group be called the Best Value and Performance Review Panel and appending minutes of the meetings held on 29 June and 29 September 1999.

DECIDED:  That the minute of the Best Value Members’ Working Group held on 29 June 1999 and the minute of the Best Value and Performance Review Panel held on 29 September 1999 be approved.

 

1136      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1136

 

On the motion of the Vice-Convener it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item:-

 

Item                                                                                                                Paragraph(s)

Request for Building Services Rebate to Housing Revenue Account                  8

Greenock Tall Ships 1999 Ltd                                                                         6

 

1137      REQUEST FOR BUILDING SERVICES REBATE TO HOUSING REVENUE                                  1137

              ACCOUNT                                                                                                                                                  

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 October 1999 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request from the Social Work and Housing Committee that the Committee agree to grant a rebate of £350,000 from the projected Building Services surplus to the
Housing Revenue Repairs Account.

DECIDED:  That the Committee agree to grant a rebate of £350,000 from the projected Building Services surplus 1999/2000 to the Housing Revenue Repairs Account 1999/2000.

 

1138      GREENOCK TALL SHIPS 1999 LTD                                                                                                 1138

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 1 November 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on the financial arrangements for the hosting of the Tall Ships event in July/August 1999 and recommending that the Council contribute one-third of the final accounting up to a maximum sum as detailed in the report.  The report recommended that, should the Committee confirm the one-third contribution, steps be taken as soon as practicable under the emergency powers procedure to release payment.

DECIDED:  That it be agreed that the Council contribute one-third of the final accounting for the hosting of the Tall Ships event up to a maximum sum as detailed in the report.